Chapter 136
Chapter 136 Testing the Limits
She was a Summoner after all.
Joanna skimmed the rest of the credit conditions.
“Earn 1 credit per character level gained.
“Clear a Nightmare-tier dungeon instance: +1 credit.
“Arena: Achieve a 10-win streak: +1 credit.
“Ascend the Skyreach Spire: +1 credit per floor cleared.
“Every First-clear dungeon achievement: +10 credits.
“Mastering a Precision-level combat technique: +10 credits.
“Elevate a skill to Epic-tier: +10 credits.
“Participate in a strategy group on a Hard-tier dungeon. Publish a strategy guide with over 100,000 views: +1 credit p>
From the list, gaining levels and climbing the Spire were clear disadvantages for her.
Joanna was already Level 20. She couldn’t gain levels as easily as those starting at 15 or 16. The Aethelgard Spire’s first-floor opponents were scaled to one’s own level, growing progressively
stronger.
She was at a natural disadvantage.
But the other categories? They were tailor-made for her.
She wasn’t worried in the slightest.
“Based on your current rankings,” the AI sprite chimed, “you’re only eligible for residential tower housing. Cost: 10 credits per day. Once your credits are depleted, you will be eliminated.
“Upon check-in, credits will be consumed continuously. All facilities will be available except advanced combat-technique courses, which have not yet opened.
“Will you check in now? If not, I can guide you to the commercial district on Satellite One. Hotels there are quite affordable, but any dungeon clears or achievements earned while staying there will not accrue program credits p>
“Ten credits a day? I can only stay for three days!” Katherine’s jaw dropped in exaggerated
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horror.
Was she destined for a three-day stint at the Program?
What was the difference between that and being eliminated in the first round?
Should she just buy some souvenirs now and go sign up at Voidstar University?
The AI laughed lightly. “Don’t worry! Your base attributes show only Agility exceeding 1,000 points. Absorbing Dimensional Origin Energy here can grant you significant daily attribute gains. You’ll be able to stay for quite a few days p>
Katherine immediately understood the math.
At that rate, ten days would net her 1,0000 attribute points. Of course, the higher her stats climbed, the slower the gains would become. Eventually, she’d still need to earn credits the hard way.
No wonder those who survived even a short time in the Program emerged as powerhouses. Her earlier bravado with Hugo had been based on these very rumors.
Now she knew the real rules.
But a new anxiety surfaced. What if, during those ten days, she failed to earn the ten daily credits needed to stay? She’d be eliminated before even getting a taste of the instructors’ legendary combat training.
She turned to Joanna.
“Joanna, are you checking in p>
“Of course! The earlier we check in, the faster our cumulative credits grow. Once our ranking improves, we can move into better housing and unlock more resources. There are only 200 villas. We have to grab one p>
Katherine felt silly for asking.
She was thinking about how to survive. Joanna was already planning how to claim a villa.
Joanna selected the residential tower option immediately. She also needed a private space to inscribe the summoning circle for her third contracted companion.
Once a new Companion was bound, her credit problems would be solved.
As the second-to-last ranked candidate, Joanna was assigned to the 100th floor of a building. Whether by elevator or the more direct method of jumping out the window, it was an inconvenience.
to room next to Joanna on the 100th.
They’d arrived early enough to pick their building. Joanna selected Building 15, second row.
Thus, she moved into Dormitory 15, 100th Floor, Unit 15.
Katherine took Unit 16.
After the grueling 20-hour trial-the most intense combat Katherine had ever experienced— she excused herself, desperate for rest.
Joanna, on the other hand, looked perfectly energized.
Two days with only four hours of sleep? Her internal clock hadn’t caught up yet.
She inspected her new quarters. The studio apartment was a compact 40 square meters, but functionally complete. A sleeping area, a tiny kitchenette. It felt cramped with her and her two humanoid contract beasts.
“We’ll manage. Once I summon the third, and we secure the credits, we’ll be moving to a villa p>
Without delay, Joanna began inscribing the intricate patterns of the Bloodcall Circle on the floor.
This was her third summoning. As she let her blood flow into the glyphs, she eyed her remaining Affinity Points: over 14 million. How much should she invest this time?
Last time, for Alwyn, she’d used only 1,000.
What if she channeled 100,000? What kind of entity would that summon?
Her pulse quickened as she adjusted the value.
“System Alert: At your current level, you may only channel a maximum of 10,000 Affinity Points into the summoning circle. Your power is insufficient to initiate a pact with a stronger entity p>
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